Electronic organ speaker system



Oct. 10, 1967 H. H. HARE ELECTRONIC ORGAN SPEAKER SYSTEM Filed Dec. 16,1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 10, 1967 HARE 3,346,070

ELECTRONIC ORGAN SPEAKER SYSTEM Filed Dec. 16, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

flgl aolp HHABE United States Patent 01 3,346,070 ELECTRONIC ORGANSPEAKER SYSTEM Harold H. Hare, 3865 Acapulco Drive, Campbell, Calif.95008 Filed Dec. 16, 1966, Set. N0. 602,405 2 Claims. (Cl. 18131)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In brief, my invention contemplates theemployment of a relatively shallow sound reverberating chamber having aplurality of electro-magnetic and/r dynamic cone type speakers arrangedin a common plane upon a sup porting baffle with a rotating soundinterrupting means by which the output of the individual speakers isperiodically and successively interrupted by said means and thus producethe effect of movement in the source of the sound. In other words, thesound emanating from the several speakers will give the appearance ofmovement in the source transverse to the axis of the speaker elementswhich will result in a tremolo or stereophonic effect as the speakersare operated in the conventional manner through an electronic amplifierunder the control of a conventional electric organ console.

My present invention relates to new and useful improvements in soundreproducing systems and more particularly a sound reproducing systemthat will improve the rendition of electronically amplified organ musicand is an improvement on the prior Patent No. 3,204,722, dated September7, 1965, entitled, Electronic Organ Speaker with Tremolo Effect.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a sound reproducingsystem to be used with an electric organ, which will faithfullyreproduce the sound and provide a pleasing tremolo effect in the upperfrequency range and in the middle and lower bass frequencies.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved speakerarrangement for creating a tremolo effect for the notes from an electricorgan with a reverberation of the music to simulate the choir or celesteeffect of pipe organ music with slightly reduced reverberation in thehigh frequency range and with increased brilliance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sound reverberatingchamber with a plurality of dynamic speakers and baflie with a rotatingsound deflector means by which a stereophonic effect is produced in anovel manner.

Another object of the invention is to produce a sound reproducing systememploying an open sided chamber with a plurality of cone type speakersthat will lend brilliance to the tones and overtones that issue from thechamber and produce sound with high fidelity for the notes in the high,low and lower frequencies with a tremolo effect and a reverberation thatis not possible with other like sound reproducing means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sound reproducing systemfor carrying out the reproduction of sound, which consists primarily ofacabinet with a plurality of sound reproducing dynamic speakers, mountedin a conventional baffle in association with an improved soundintercepting means that will operate successively on the individualspeakers to produce an overall tremolo and celeste effect.

Other and further objects, features and advantages will be apparent fromthe following description of presently preferred embodiments of theinvention, given for the purpose of disclosure and taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, where like character referencesdesignate like parts throughout the several views.

ice

In the accompanying drawings where like numerals refer to like partsthroughout the several views,

FIGURE 1 is a front view of my improved sound producing cabinet,

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the device as shown in FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3 3 of FIGURE 2looking in direction of arrows,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing details of a sound waveinterrupting member, and

FIGURE 5 is a similar view showing another form of sound interruptingmember for use in accordance with the invention.

For a more detailed description of the invention reference is made tothe accompanying drawings wherein the numeral 10 designates a frame-likechamber forming member which with a baffle 11 may be described as anopen ended cabinet. The cabinet 10 formed as shown is substantiallysquare in outline and mounted upon the baffle 11 there are four conetype dynamic loud speakers, the two larger ones designated by thenumeral 12 are arranged diametrically opposite each other in a circle aswill be here and after pointed out. Also arranged in this circle andbetween the loud speakers 12 there are two smaller speakers 13. In thisarrangement the speakers 12 and 13 are shown as of elliptical form withtheir long axes disposed tangent to the circle in which they arearranged. Extending centrally and by the speaker carrying baffle 11there is a rotatable shaft 14, upon which there is mounted a sound waveinterrupting member 15 that is disposed at the front of the speakers 12and 13. This sound wave interrupting member, as will be here and afterpointed out is adapted and arranged to move across and the sound wavepaths of the several speakers when the system is in operation.

As shown in FIGURE 2 the shaft 14 carries a relatively large beltaccommodating pulley that is driven through a belt 17 by a smallelectric motor 18 located to one side and at the bottom of cabinet 10.As here shown the shaft 14 also carries a sound interrupting member 19,which like the sound interrupting member 15 is adapted and arranged tomove into sound intercepting relation at the backs of the speakers 12and 13. In this latter figure of the drawings it is to be noted that thesound wave deflecting member 19 is disposed at an angle with respect tothe sound interrupting member 15 which as shown in FIG- URE l is in asubstantially vertical position. The sound interrupting members 15 and19 are of a width sufficient to substantially encompass entire outputarea of the larger loud speakers and when in rotation, these memberswill operate in a nonsynchronized sound interrupting effect at thefronts and backs of the loud speakers 12 and 13. As a further feature Imay also employ loud speakers 20 at the sides of the cabinet formingframe 10 to provide some straight and unintermpting sound which willblend with the slow tremolo effect of the other speakers 12 and 13 whenthe sound interrupting members 15 and 19 are operating at their mediumspeed. This in effect provides over tones which blend and provide aceleste quality in the tone somewhat like that produced when two sets oforgan pipes are purposely detuned from each other to cause beats or awavering of tone.

While all of the speakers 12 and 13 may operate within the same tonalrange, different effects can be provided by varying the tonal range ofthe successive speakers as arranged in a circle as described above. Therate of speed of the sound interrupting members 15 and 1% may vary fromto 200 r.p.m., which would be the fast speed, at about 30 r.p.m. atmodern speed and as low as 15 rpm. at the lower speed. In thisconnection the speeds will be adjustable and may be varied toaccommodate each particular organ and/or the conditions under which thesystem is to operate. Normally the cabinet 10 will be located a suitabledistance from the wall of aroom in order that the sound from the back orone side of the cabinet 10 will not be blocked. In practice it iscontemplated that the speaker cabinet should be set in the front wall ofa hall or auditorium either remote from or immediately adjacent to theelectronic organ console.

As shown in FIGURE 3 the sound interrupting members 15 and-19-are ofsufficient construction and thickness to be free of resonance.Preferably the members 15 and 19 will be formed of ply-wood with four ormore plys. As here indicated the shaft14 is mounted in a bushingassembly and journaled for rotation upon hearing forming bushings 21 and22 that-are secured upon the speaker supporting baffle 11.

In operation it will be found that very little turbulance will be set upby the rotating sound interrupting members 15 and 19. However, whenoperating at their higher speeds and to avoid any turbulance at thesehigher speeds the members 15 and 19 are chamfered along their sides 23,at an angle of approximately 45 degrees and inclined in a direction awayfrom the source of sound produced by the speakers. These chamfered sides23 provide knifelike edges tangent'to the axis of the shaft 14 and serveto deflect sound toward the top, bottom and sides of the cabinet. Thecabinet) as shown here is open at both ends, but it will be understoodthat for appearance when used exposed to view the ends of the cabinet 10may be covered or closed with a sound pervious fabric as is wellunderstood in this art.

In FIGURE there is shown a modification of the sound interruptingmember, here designated by the numeral 24, which has a main soundinterrupting portion 25 with flaring side portions 26 that extendoutwardly a greater depth from the source of sound than does thecharnfering 23 of the members 15 and 19. In this showing a greater depthin the chamfering as shown in FIG- URE4, is obtained without anymaterial increase in the weight or mass of the rotating member. Whilethe sound interrupting members 15 and "19 with the champering 23 asshown have a lateral sound deflecting function, the flaring sections 26of the member 24 willprovide a greater sound distributing effect. Inorder to obtain this result the member .24 is here shown as formed ofsingleply wood of reduced thickness which will at the same timeprovide agreater depth in the sound deflecting and flaring portions 26 of themember 24. This sound interrupting member 24 will be found particularlysuited to the lower tonal ranges and will rotate at speedspreferablylower than will the soundinterrupting members 15 and 19.

While I have, for thesake of clearness and in order to disclose myinvention so that the same can be readily understood, described andillustrated specific forms and arrangements, I desire to have itunderstood that this invention is not limited to the specific formsdisclosed, but may be embodied in other ways that will suggestthemselves to persons skilled in the art. It is believed that thisinvention is new and all such changes as come within the scope of theappended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In a sound reproducing system for electronic organs, the combinationof a sound reverberating cabinet having an open end, a verticallydisposed speaker supporting baffle mounted within said cabinet inwardlyfrom the open end thereof, a plurality of. electrodynamic soundreproducing speakers mounted in a circle upon said supporting bafllewith their axes in line with the open end of said cabinet, an elongatedsound wave interrupting member of non-resonant material mounted inoutwardly spaced relation at the front of said speakers having a totalwidth corresponding substantially with the effective diameter of saidspeakers and of a length suflicient to cover-at least two diametricallyopposite speakers in said circle, said sound wave interrupting memberhaving a central portion extending transverse to the axes of saidspeakers and flaring side portions extending outwardly therefrom at anangle of substantially 45 degrees, and means including a motor drivensupporting shaft for turning said sound interrupting member when saidspeakers are in operation, whereby a roving stereophonic and tremoloeffect will be produced in the sound waves emanating at the open end ofsaid chamber.

2. In a .sound reproducing system for producing pipe organ effectsinsound produced by an electronic organ, the combination of ahorizontally extending sound reverberating cabinet of resonant materialhaving sound transmitting open ends, a vertically disposed speakersupporting baflie located intermediate the open ends of said cabinet, aplurality of dynamic speakers mounted in a circle upon said baflie toproject sounds from the front and backs thereof and at opposite sides ofsaid speaker supporting baflle, rectangular sound interrupting membersmounted at each side'of said baffle upon a rotating shaft extendingcentrally through said speaker supporting 'baflle, said sound waveinterrupting members being of a width to cover the area of a singlespeaker as mounted in said circle and of a length'suflicient to cover atleast two radially aligned speakers in said circle, means for drivingsaid shaft to turn said sound interrupting members in a plane transverseto the direction of thesound waves produced by said speakers, andcharacterized by the fact that the ends of said sound interruptingmembers are rounded to compare with the circumference of a circle aboutthe axis of said supporting shaft and are chamfered along their sides ina direction outwardly from said speakers-at an angle of substantially 45degrees.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS STEPHENJ. .TOMSKY, PrimaryExaminer.

1. IN A SOUND REPRODUCING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC ORGANS, THE COMBINATIONOF A SOUND REVERBERATING CABINET HAVING AN OPEN END, A VERTICALLYDISPOSED SPEAKER SUPPORTING BAFFLE MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CABINET INWARDLYFROM THE OPEN END THEREOF, A PLURALITY OF ELECTRODYNAMIC SOUNDREPRODUCING SPEAKERS MOUNTED IN A CIRCLE UPON SAID SUPPORTING BAFFLEWITH THEIR AXES IN LINE WITH THE OPEN END OF SAID CABINET, AN ELONGATEDSOUND WAVE INTERRUPTING MEMBER OF NON-RESONANT MATERIAL MOUNTED INOUTWARDLY SPACED RELATION AT THE FRONT OF SAID SPEAKER HAVING A TOTALWIDTH CORRESPONDING SUBSTANTIALLY WITH THE EFFECTIVE DIAMETER OF SAIDSPEAKERS AND OF A LENGTH SUFFICIENT TO COVER AT LEAST TWO DIAMETRICALLYOPPOSITE SPEAKERS IN SAID CIRCLE, SAID SOUND WAVE INTERRUPTING MEMBERHAVING A CENTRAL PORTION EXTENDING TRANSVERSE TO THE AXES OF SAIDSPEAKERS AND FLARING SIDE PORTIONS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY